Amino what? Protein is made up of small building blocks called amino acids. There are 20 different amino acids. Each different protein is composed of amino acids put together in a different order. Proteins tend to be very large and may contain several hundred amino acids.

Are trees not top-of-mind during the winter? Maybe they should be. Winter is an ideal time to inspect tree branches for defects, decay, or structural issues without the camouflage of leaves. Wounds, decay cavities, crooked growth, and weak branch unions are problems in the making that can be more easily spotted when the trees are bare.

Bills have a way of always going up, and very rarely coming down. Food bills fluctuate according to the number of trips to the grocery store and number of times eating out. Luckily, food bills can go down if you are willing to stick to a budget.

One of the worst stressors in a cook’s world is looking for an ingredient and finding that you just ran out or someone used the last of it. Sometimes you can substitute ingredients and the dish still tastes good. Other times there are ingredients that you can't find a good substitution for.

When you think of the fall season, mums, pumpkins, and corn stalks often come to mind. With winter approaching all too fast, gardeners try to soak up as much garden atmosphere as they can to get them through that cold weather ahead.

A terrarium is a container designed to hold small plants and animals in controlled conditions. Its closed nature creates an environment that is easy to control, allowing people to simulate everything from the desert to the rainforest.

Gypsy moth egg masses laid in August sit silently throughout fall and winter waiting for spring to arrive at which time they will hatch mid-April to mid-May when temperatures are above 60°F here in Pennsylvania.

Boxelder bugs, Boisea trivittas, are considered a fall nuisance to those of us who have boxelder trees (Acer negundo) near our homes. As the temperatures start to drop these insects decide that a good overwintering site is in our homes.

Maintaining a shade garden after the spring bulbs have faded can be a challenge. Tall trees can suck up any moisture and leave you with bone dry soil. To correct the problem incorporate as much organic matter as possible.

Potatoes sometimes get a bad rap as many folks believe that they cause weight gain. Potatoes are considered a vegetable; however, because they are a starchy vegetable, it is recommended to eat only up to five cups a week based on a 2000 calorie diet. Every day we should strive to eat two and one half cups of vegetables.

Often one of the jobs of the kitchen helpers is to clear the table and put away any leftovers. Food storage containers can be great tools for kitchen helpers, or they can be a nightmare. Choosing the proper food storage containers is important both for food safety and food quality. Food safety experts warn not to reuse packaging materials such as paper, paperboard, and expanded foam containers, like foam cups and foam meat trays. These containers have air spaces that will store food particles and bacteria.

Rice is an economical food for family meals. It is a good source of energy, and can supply vitamins and minerals to the diet. It is generally classified as a grain, but in family meals it can be used as a cereal, as a substitute for potatoes, in soups, and as a dessert. The custom of throwing rice at weddings is a survival of the ancient Chinese religious belief that rice is the symbol of fertility.

Summer is the season when vegetables are available. They are popping up at road side stands, farmers markets, maybe even your own backyard. It is a great time of year for enjoying vegetables and to introduce new vegetables to children.